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Top 5 Cleveland Browns draft classes in the SB era

By Casey Kinnamon

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 28: Tight End Ozzie Newsome #82 of the Cleveland Browns dives to make a catch against the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL football game October 28, 1990 at Candlestick park in San Francisco, California. Newsome played for the Browns from 1978-90. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 28: Tight End Ozzie Newsome #82 of the Cleveland Browns dives to make a catch against the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL football game October 28, 1990 at Candlestick park in San Francisco, California. Newsome played for the Browns from 1978-90. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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Cleveland Browns
Jan 3, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) hands the ball off to running back Nick Chubb (24) during the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports /

Draft Class No. 4: 2018

Depending on how the subsequent seasons play out, this draft class could climb as high as number one or be lost in the scrap heap of draft classes that never reached full potential. While it is still early, with only three years separating this draft class from the time of this article, it is undeniable that the Browns walked away with three impact players in the 2018 NFL draft.

With the first overall pick, the Browns selected Baker Mayfield. While it was viewed as a home run after his rookie season, it was then self-sabotaged by spotty play in his sophomore effort. However, after a solid third year, Mayfield is beginning to show himself to be an upper-tier quarterback. Ultimately, and rightly so, he will be judged by wins and losses.

Three picks later, the Browns selected Denzel Ward out of the Ohio State University. The only knock, and it is legitimate, is Ward’s durability. The lock-down cornerback has missed 11 games through his first three seasons in the NFL. Although, when Ward is on the field, he is a top-flight cornerback and has the skills to be one of the very best in the NFL.

The Browns second selection in Round 2, Nick Chubb, is one of the best running backs in the entire league. Chubb, the fourth running back selected in 2018, has vastly outperformed the ball carriers that were selected in front of him. When describing Chubb, it would be easy to run out of superlatives.

His combination of speed, power, and vision could very well be the best in all of professional football. Chubb is quickly rampaging up the Browns all-time rushing records, which is saying something due to the long lineage of outstanding running back in the franchise’s history. The only negative on Chubb is the position that he plays may ultimately not be valued enough to keep in orange and brown. Hopefully, Andrew Berry proves me wrong.

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